Status: Native
Synonyms:
Cerastium nutans sensu NM authors
Cerastium fastigiatum is an annual chickweed that closely resembles the perennial Cerastium arvense. Both have small white flowers with cleft petals.
The flowers of Cerastium fastigiatum are slightly smaller than those of Cerastrium arvense.
Although the petals are not cleft as deeply as in Stellaria species, it still can appear that the five petals are more like ten. The fruit is a hairy capsule. Cerastrium fastigiatum stems are weak but still more bushy than those of Cerastium nutans, another annual and similar species that also has less acuminate sepals.
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Cerastium fastigiatum, photo Russ Kleinman, Burro Mtns., Burro Peak, Sept. 10, 2007
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